Dear family, brethren, and friends,

On Saturday we drove far out into the countryside to reach the Airport Rd. church of Christ. There is no airport, but Francis Kamau gathered about 14 people including three denominational preachers to study with us.  Paul did some very simple and direct teaching about God’s way being the only way of salvation and the futility of men making other ways which can result only in their being lost.

I preached from Ephesians 1 on “All Spiritual Blessings Are in Christ.”  After developing that main point, I discussed how we enter this realm of salvation in Christ by obeying the gospel, and how we learn to live a new life, to engage in a new worship, and to bring our family into conformity to God’s plan.  I called on Francis to read the passages in the local dialect, which is not Swahili.  When he read Ephesians 5:19 about singing in worship, Joseph intervened to explain the translation he read includes the words “beating drums.”  Yes, “beating drums!”  Joseph explained this is not accurate.  That is the first time in my preaching life that I have asked for a verse to be read, only to find out it was a false translation.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Our first Monday appointment was at Kibathi where Peter Mbugua preaches. This is a rural church meeting in a borrowed room in a house in a small compound.  About 30 people were crammed into the room to hear my lesson from Mark 16 on “The Resurrection of Christ.”  A young brother translated it into Swahili.  English is the second official language in Kenya, but often rural people who read English cannot speak or understand the spoken word well.

This church outgrew the small room and several members came from the community of Kangui, so Peter established a new church there meeting in a small second-floor, rented room at the back of a building which houses businesses.  Today about 12 people joined us for the lesson from Colossians 3:11, “Christ Is All.”

A special lectureship for preachers on “How to Study the Bible” and “Marriage and Morals” was planned for August 1-3 in a conference room at the Eastward Garden Hotel in Nyahururu.  Paul Coffman and Joseph Warui attended to many details in arranging the venue and inviting preachers.  Joseph said 66 participants joined our class on Tuesday, some traveling a full day to arrive.  The session started with singing at 8:30 A.M. and then proceeded to specific topics.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By God’s loving providence, my Wednesday-Thursday flights from Louisville to Atlanta to Amsterdam to Nairobi, Kenya were unremarkable – which is always the best way to fly.  I got a lot of work done on the laptop related to the trip and got some good sleep.

I arrived at 10:00 PM Thursday but could not exit the airport until midnight because a government official wanted to collect “taxes” on the six boxes of Bibles and study materials I bought to distribute.  I explained these items were donated and would be donated to Kenyans, but the official insisted on collecting “taxes.”  After paying $200, I was allowed to leave.  Paul Coffman and Joseph Warui were waiting for me.  Paul knows the President and other officials – he quickly researched the issue and assured me no taxes or fees were due. He sent a copy of my receipt to an official in the hope of getting a refund, so, we shall see what we shall see!  International travel can be an adventure in unpredictable ways.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I reached home before midnight last night by the grace of God but was delayed in sending this notice by computer problems.  I am thankful to be home with Donna and to see she is doing so well.  David and Joel arrived in Fairbanks, Alaska just shortly after I arrived at the airport in Louisville, Kentucky.

This trip to the Philippines was fruitful in every way.  Having David and Joel to help was a great blessing.  David’s preaching was edifying and encouraging, and Joel’s public relations presence topped it off — everyone loves a 10-year-old as sweet as Joel!  Joel was attentive to the lessons and encouraged other young people to be attentive.  All of our travels were safe and there was no sickness.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Having completed our schedule in the Ilocos region, we said our goodbyes to our dear brethren there and flew from Laoag City, Ilocos Norte to Manila on Thursday, April 27, arriving in the late afternoon.  James Paet took us to the Asian Mall (the third largest mall in the world) so that David and Joel could look for souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

On Friday I woke up with the gift of knowing it was Donna’s birthday (at least in the Philippines – we are 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time here).  Then I had the honor and privilege of purchasing 750 Bibles in various dialects to be shipped to brethren in many parts of the Philippines by the Philippine Bible Society, thanks to the generous donations of many saints.  Joel went with James and me, but David stayed behind to rest because his energy was depleted and he did not want to crash and miss the special classes planned for Saturday-Monday.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Early Saturday morning (Apr. 22) Rody and Tessie Gumpad picked up David, Joel, and me to take us from the Cagayan region to the Ilocos region in northwest Luzon.  First, we drove three hours to reach Magacan, Pamplona in the Province of Cagayan to preach to the Negritos, one of the poorest of all the tribal groups.  They live in little huts made of native materials with the ground as the floor and cook over open fires.  In spite of their deep poverty, they are intelligent and humble people.  Danilo Bautista is a Negrito and works among them proclaiming the gospel.

More than 120 attended as David preached from Psalms 145-146 about putting our trust in God who alone can give us true happiness.  I spoke from Psalm 23 on “The Lord Is Our Shepherd King.”  Robinson Pulveras translated in the dialect.  Ten souls responded to the gospel call and were immediately baptized into Christ with great rejoicing all around.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Wednesday morning Rody Gumpad drove David, Joel, and me about an hour from our hotel in Tuguegararo City to Remus, Baggao, Cagayan Valley where Abraham and Sammy Paet serve as evangelists.  They have just constructed a new church building which lacks only a few finishing touches in a couple of rooms and on the outside, in addition to putting up a fence to be complete.

71 souls were gathered including visitors, one of whom is a denominational pastor who attended high school with Sammy.  Sammy has been studying with his friend Joel and I have also been sharing study materials with him via email.  He was very happy to be with us today to hear David’s lesson from Ecclesiastes on the three R’s (rejoice, remove, and remember) followed by my sermon “When Peter Confessed Christ.”  Rody summarized our presentations in the dialect because this is another remote place.  These saints want me to relay their appreciation for the financial help which enabled them to construct this new building.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The last night in the Bicol Region was Tuesday, April 11, and a low pressure cell brought steady rain and some high winds.  The weak internet prevented me from working on email, so I swam 50 laps in the very deserted pool and went to bed at 10:30.  I am almost ashamed to admit I slept 10 ½ hours, but maybe my body was sending a message about needing to catch up on rest.

Wednesday I walked and took a short swim but also talked with Donna on the phone, as I do morning and evening each day.  There were also several calls with David about last minute details preparing for his coming with Joel. Jhun Layusa with a contingent of dear saints took me to the airport that afternoon to catch a plane back to Manila.  After arriving about 7:00 P.M., getting checked in at the hotel, and eating supper, I dove into the backlog of emails and also worked on sermon charts before sleeping at midnight.
Continue reading

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Jhun Layusa brought us from Naga to Pulanglupa Pasacao, Camarines Sur on Saturday to labor with Rico and Rocky Ruado.  The audience of 44 people were crammed into a house with some listening on the outside as I taught on “Selecting a Mate: The Lord Builds the House” (Ps. 127:1).  Before lunch the focus was on what God does to help us find the right mate and after lunch what God teaches us to do to find the right mate.  The key on our side is to be the right kind of person in order to find and attract the right kind of person.

Since I touched on avoiding dances in order to maintain moral purity, someone during the open forum asked if folk dances are appropriate for Christians. If the dance does not involve males and females in inappropriate touching and sexual moves, it may be innocent.  This led into a more detailed discussion about the dangers of temptation involved in most dancing.  The dangers center around lasciviousness or conduct which stirs the desire for fornication.
Continue reading